Perry County Preserves Riverfront Heritage, Boosts Tourism and Education

Perry County’s historic sites form a concentrated corridor of heritage attractions that connect the 1818 Rome Courthouse site and nearby pioneer era structures with living history at Shubael Little Pioneer Village and walkable downtowns in Cannelton and Tell City. Together these sites tell a story of early river commerce, German American settlement, and 19th and 20th century industrial life along the Ohio River while serving as anchors for local tourism and education.

The Rome Courthouse site features interpretive signage and historical markers and is used for occasional reenactments and community heritage events. Shubael Little Pioneer Village is a reconstructed pioneer settlement where living history demonstrations and educational programs are often run by local volunteers and historical associations. Cannelton’s historic district offers brick storefronts, landmark churches and the Cannelton Cotton Mill, parts of which have been repurposed, that illustrate the town’s industrial past. The Tell City Historical Society and Perry County Museum maintain exhibits that draw on more than a century of county newspapers and artifacts from river trade and manufacturing.

These heritage resources matter locally because they generate foot traffic for downtown businesses in Tell City and Cannelton, provide concrete classroom content for field trips and history fairs, and form the evidentiary base for grant applications. Preserving buildings and collections allows community groups to pursue funding for archival digitization, ADA improvements, and youth education partnerships. Partnerships between local museums, the Perry County Public Library and county archives keep newspapers and records accessible for students, researchers and families tracing local history.

Small museums and heritage sites depend heavily on volunteers and intermittent staffing, so check the Perry County Public Library and the Tell City Historical Society for hours, special exhibits and group tour scheduling. Advanced notice is strongly recommended for group visits. For organizations seeking preservation funding or event collaboration, contact the Perry County Community Foundation or the local chamber of commerce.

Projects in the county are commonly supported through a mix of small grants, community foundation awards, municipal in kind support, donations and volunteer labor. Sustaining these investments improves accessibility and equity, expands educational access, and helps ensure that Perry County history remains a living resource for current and future generations.